CARLSBAD: Restrictions on remote-controlled planes eased

Proposed Rollerblading restrictions put on hold

Remote-controlled airplanes will be allowed back into Carlsbad's
parks, and Rollerblade users can continue to skate through downtown
for some time to come.

The City Council agreed Tuesday night to ease a one-year-old
flight restriction on model planes, and put the brakes on a
proposal to limit Rollerblade use.

Model plane enthusiasts celebrated the city's change of heart,
while roller skaters offered to work with city staff.

"I think this needs further discussion and I'd like to be a part
of that discussion," Carlsbad skater Nina Eaton said, as she
discussed the proposed skating ban.

The council had been scheduled to give final approval Tuesday to
an amendment that would have put in-line skates and "other similar
forms of transportation" in the same category as skateboards.

The use of skateboards is banned in Carlsbad's downtown region
and in places where "no skateboarding" signs are posted, such as
public buildings and shopping centers.

An Oceanside resident who regularly walks Carlsbad's seawall
area has been pushing the city to add a restriction against in-line
skaters for months, saying he's had many unpleasant run-ins with
speeding skaters.

Tuesday night, the council heard from two skaters who said the
city was about to punish all skaters because of the bad behavior of
a few folks.

Jim Young, who said he has lived and skated in Carlsbad for two
decades, told the council that in-line skate use brings huge public
health benefits in an era when obesity is a nationwide problem.

"I feel a little disheartened that somebody from Oceanside comes
and tells me that I can't take care of my health," he said.

After hearing from skaters, council members said they might
instead set time restrictions on when in-line skates can be used,
particularly along the city's busy seawalk area.

Meanwhile, a ban on flying model planes in city parks will be
eased somewhat. The council decided Tuesday to allow
electric-powered model planes to be flown at the city's natural
turf baseball fields from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but only when those
fields are not needed by baseball players. People who fly the
planes will need to have insurance. The planes can weigh no more
than 2 pounds and must fly less than 60 mph.

When the council enacted its ban against flying model planes in
the parks, city officials had anticipated that the hobby pilots
would relocate to a spot along Carlsbad Boulevard that's popular
with people who fly gliders. That hasn't worked out because the
high wind conditions that are good for gliders aren't sought by
electric-powered plane enthusiasts, city recreation services
manager Mick Calarco said.